O mankind! Fear your Rabb (who created you from non-existence into existence and sustains you) who created you from a single soul (from Adam), created its spouse (Hawwa) from it and spread great numbers of men and women from the two (from Adam and Hawwa). Fear that Allah in whom (in whose name) you ask (for things and take promises) from each other and (fear breaking) family ties (live amicably). Verily Allah is watchful over you (He watches your actions and your behaviour towards them).

In short, this verse serves as an introduction to injunctions which are going to appear in this Surah. The purpose here is to dissuade human beings from becoming the usurpers of Divine rights, while at the same time, by telling them that they all are the children of the same father, the wonderful humane dimension of love, mutual sympathy and concern was given as the working hypothesis of common living, so that the mutual rights of relatives, orphans and married couples could be fulfilled right from the heart at the very grass-root level.

The word, al-arham in verse 1 is the plural of Rahim. Rahim is the womb. The womb of the mother is the home of the child until born. Since this womb is the source of blood relationship, the act of maintaining relations in that line is called silatur–rahim in Arabic (literally, umbilical link or bond or relationship). The converse of it, that is showing carelessness and indifference towards natural linkage based on blood relationship is identified as qat’-al-rahim (literally, umbilical delink-age, meaning cutting off relationship with one’s kin).

The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Whoever likes to have his livelihood made plentifully and his age extended for him should maintain good relations with his near kin. (al-Mishkaat al-Masabih, p. 419)

This Hadith tells us about two benefits that issue forth from treating near relations well. The merit of the hereafter vouchsafed, this fair treatment of one’s kin has its benefits in this life as well, that is, it removes straightening from his livelihood and blesses his age with more good years.

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